Every Billboard #1 Hit of 1966

Ah, memories. That was the year I finished eighth grade and started high school. (Yes, I'm old.) But irrespective of my personal relationship to songs, it was an interesting year for music. We were in the heart of the British invasion, and clearly Motown was still big. (I love that in the clips for both Supremes song, all you see is Diana!)

To round things out, we had a last gasp hit from Frank Sinatra, a novelty song ("Winchester Cathedral"), a weird patriotic song ("Green Berets"), and the first hits from Simon & Garfunkel and The Monkees.

The only songs that I didn't like then, and still detest were the aforementioned "Berets," as well as "Wild Thing" and "96 Tears."

I was born in 1965 and did not start appreciating the 60's music until I was in my mid 20's (I was a child of the 70's). The music of this year is great to listen to. This is my opinion, but I think musicians in the 60's, 70's and 80's really had to prove their talent. There are some artists I enjoy today (Kelly Clarkson, Sam Smith, Adele)but I am one of the older people who enjoys the older music more. And I have to give credit to anyone going out there and being a singer (the only exception I make is Justin Bieber).

1966 was THE year for pop music...of all time, not just the '60s

R3, again...making a point.

Top 5 (in order): Walk Away Renée

Reach Out I'll Be There

Good Vibrations

My World Is Empty Without You

I Fought the Law

5-way tie for #100:

Barbara Ann

Elusive Butterfly

Ballad of the Green Berets

Guantanamera

Somewhere My Love

The best music of 1966 was on two LPs, [italic]Pet Sounds [/italic]by the Beach Boys, and [italic]Face to Face[/italic] by the Kinks.

Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler who recorded "Ballad of the Green Berets" was hot. But then he died...

It is was so upbeat, too. Now it is so nihilistic and ugly.

I liked the fashion/style of 1966, too

Sadler had an odd life.

Not a #1 hit, but one of 1966's best song, "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore," by the Walker Brothers. Live version:

Only three acts topped the charts twice that year. All groups. Two of them were the biggest acts of the 1960's and the third one was a TV imitation of the top act.

"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore," by the Walker Brothers was a UK number one that year. Although they were American, they actually found greater success in Britain.

R10 One of my all-time favorite songs. I don't know why they didn't have more success. They were similar to the Righteous Brothers, but that song is as good as any of the Righteous' hits.

Diana Ross is so cute in those 2 clips!

Damn...thanks for posting that. What an amazing lineup of classic pop and rock.

I turned 6 in October 1966, but the only song I didn't recognize was Johnny Rivers'. I remember some of his other songs, but this one was lost on me.

The Monkees were considered very pop/bubble gum in their time, but they were a much better group than they get credit for.

I'll Be There is one of my favorite songs of all time.

It was a great time for music.

Great year for Motown

[quote]I'll Be There is one of my favorite songs of all time.

The Four Tops' song is called Reach Out (I'll Be There). I'm only making the distinction because there is another Motown classic by The Jackson 5 (later covered by Mimi Carey)called I'll Be There

People must have been glued to the radio back then. An older colleague said to me, that people would sometimes fall silent if a particular song came on and that they would sit around to listen to an album and discuss the meaning of the lyrics.

Diana Ross was so glamorous and modern.

"Good Vibrations" really jumps out from the pack.

Lou Christy and Denny Doherty still get me hard.

Six songs I didn't recognize (out of 27)and I live/lived in the periphery of Europe. I was 16 at the time.

The Walker Brothers song 'The Sun Ain't...'is one of my favorites too. Heard it first time in the early 70s.

The Supremes' clip of You Can't Hurry Love is from that famous Ed Sullivan Show presentation in which Miss Ross' right earring fell out and she caught it without missing a beat, subtly raising her hand as if to say, "got it, no sweat." @ 1:45

The Mamas and the Papas are all dead to me! DEAD!

One of my fave one hit wonders of 1966...and covered by a zillion people at the time.

More '66

Where, R25?

Here, R26

R1: I too finished 8th grade in 1966 and I generally agree with your post. However, I have to dispute your characterization of Frank Sinatra's hit as his last gasp. He was alive for at least 30 more years and continued to perform to sell out crowds well into the 80's and 90's. The 70's brought his signature "New York, New York" which was wildly popular, but I don't know if it charted.

[quote]I have to dispute your characterization of Frank Sinatra's hit as his last gasp. He was alive for at least 30 more years and continued to perform to sell out crowds well into the 80's and 90's.

& not forgetting a little thing called 'My Way'

[quote]The 70's brought his signature "New York, New York"

WHOSE signature?